FIRST ROAD WIN: Red Bulls II blank Kickers, 1-0

RICHMOND, Va. – The Red Bulls II defeated Richmond Kickers, 1-0, at City Stadium to earn their first road win of the United Soccer League season Saturday night.

NYRBII improved to 5-5-2 and 17 points while Richmond (10) fell to 2-6-4.

“Richmond’s a tough place to play, first win here and first on the road for us,” New York head coach John Wolyniec said. “Both are important to us. We certainly didn’t play a perfect game but we competed well against a team that knows how to compete and fight. We got a goal and kept a clean sheet, which are equally as important. I’m proud of our guys.”

New York scored the lone goal in the 38th minute, thanks to Brandon Allen. Vincent Bezecourt connected a low-driven cross to the onrushing Allen, who finished at the near the post for his seventh goal of 2017.

The assist from Bezecourt was his league-leading sixth on the season.

Neither side made any changes at the half.

In the 53rd and 57th minutes, Red Bulls II goalkeeper Rafael Diaz, making only his second start of the season, made two important saves to keep Richmond scoreless.

New York nearly doubled its lead in the 79th minute as Derrick Etienne Jr. served in a looping ball over the back of the Kickers defense that found the foot of Junior Flemmings, but his attempt rattled the crossbar.

Wolyniec inserted New York Red Bulls third round MLS Superdraft pick Jordan Scarlett in the 84th minute in an effort to kill off the match.

Scarlett’s six-minute cameo wsd his first professional appearance for Red Bulls II after suffering a preseason shoulder injury.

As stoppage-time expired, Richmond sent numbers forward looking for the equalizer but Diaz saved their attempts to keep the clean sheet.

Red Bulls II returns to action at MSU Soccer Park next weekend when Louisville City FC comes to town Sunday, June 11 at 4 p.m. ET.